Ball Dispenser for Sports and Athletic Equipment Storage

ABSTRACT

A ball dispenser having a plurality of connecting members and a plurality of basic sections, each connecting member dimensioned for a particular ball size, and each basic section having a triangular portion, vertical portion, and rectangular portion. When two or more basic sections are integrally connected together by means of varying sized connecting members, a funnel section, column section, and bin section are formed. This allows a number of balls to be placed into the funnel section at the top of the ball dispenser, and to fall one at a time through the column section, and into the bin section. Ball dispenser is designed to be affixed to a wall and to rest on a floor so that the wall and floor provide the back and bottom of the ball dispenser. Additional equipment storage may be affixed to the ball dispenser.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to storing sports and athletic equipment, and specifically to a ball dispenser for easy storage and access to varying sized athletic balls

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

School gyms, recreation centers, and other facilities require numerous types and quantities of equipment to support multiple athletic activities that go on at the same time. Balls, such as basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, and kick balls, are often required in great numbers, and these numbers create storage difficulties. Other types of balls such as bocce balls, softballs, croquet balls, and field hockey balls pose the same storage problem. In addition to balls, other types of equipment, such as hoops and jump ropes, used to support various athletic programs require storage. Usually, such equipment is stored in a closet of a school gym or recreation center. When stored in a closet, balls and other types of equipment, are often strewn about or stacked haphazardly. Not only does a disorganized storage space cause delay in the start of activities as equipment is retrieved, but a disorganized storage space presents a safety hazard for students, players, or coaches seeking to hurriedly retrieve equipment. Even when neatly stored, access to a particular type of ball, racket, or training device may be difficult, as some items are more easily accessed than others.

The placement of various sized balls into one large container or storage bin is also problematic when one desires the use of only one type or size ball. Quick access to a specific ball type or size is difficult when balls of different sizes and types are mixed together.

Thus, a need exists for a storage device that allows organized storage of large numbers of balls of different sizes as well as other equipment supporting physical training. Preferably a solution to this problem would not require use of an existing room but would be usable within the gym itself. Moreover, a solution should allow access to balls of varying sizes without having to empty a bin or barrel,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention that meets the needs described above is a ball dispenser having a plurality of basic sections and a plurality of connecting members dimensioned for a particular ball size. Each basic section has three portions, a triangular portion at the top, a vertical portion at the middle, and a rectangular portion at the base. When two or more basic sections are integrally connected together by a plurality of connecting members, a funnel section, column section and bin section are formed, such that a number of balls may be placed into the funnel section, at the top of the ball dispenser, and then fall one at a time through the column section and into the bin section. Ball dispenser may be constructed with any number of basic sections and connecting members. The width between the basic sections, which is also the width of the column section, is sized to the dimension of a particular ball size. Once a ball is removed from the bin section of the ball dispenser, another ball takes its place as the balls in the column section press downward and move into the bin section. The assembled ball dispenser is mounted against a wall so that the floor of the gym provides the bottom of the bin sections and a gym wall, to which the ball dispenser is affixed, provides the back of the ball dispenser. Various extensions of the ball dispenser provide for storage of hoops, ropes, and other equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will be understood best by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a depicts an exploded view of a ball dispenser,

FIG. 1 b depicts a condensed view of a ball dispenser;

FIG. 2 depicts a self-contained small, medium, and large ball dispenser; and

FIG. 3 depicts a ball dispenser with additional storage capabilities and with additional embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 a, wherein like numerals throughout the figures represent like elements, a ball dispenser 100 is disclosed. FIG. 1 a depicts an exploded view of ball dispenser 100 in order to show a method of constructing ball dispenser 100. Ball dispenser 100 comprises a plurality of connecting members 110 and a plurality of basic sections 120. Each basic section 120 comprises three portions, a triangular portion 122 at the top, a vertical portion 124 at the middle, and a rectangular portion 126 at the base. When two or more basic sections 120 are integrally connected together by a plurality of connecting members 110, ball dispenser 100 is formed as shown in FIG. 1 b.

FIG. 1 b depicts a ball dispenser 100 constructed according to the specifications described in FIG. 1 a. Specifically, FIG. 1 b depicts ball dispenser 100 with the capacity to hold balls of three different sizes: ball dispenser segment A 210, ball dispenser segment B 220, and ball dispenser segment C 230. Using ball dispenser segment C 230 as an example, once can see that ball dispenser segment C 230 is formed from two basic sections 120 integrally connected together by a plurality of connecting members 110. Each basic section 120 of ball dispenser segment C 230 has triangular portion 122 at the top, vertical portion 124 at the middle, and rectangular portion 126 at the base. When the two basic sections 120 of ball dispenser segment C 230 are joined together by connecting members 110, a funnel section 260, column section 270 and bin section 280 is formed, as shown in FIG. 1 b and 2. Funnel section 260 comprises two triangular portions 122, joined together and extending outward, creating an open portion at the top of ball dispenser segment C 230. Column section 270 comprises two vertical portions 124, running parallel to each other, allowing for passage of balls through ball dispenser segment C 230. Bin section 280 comprises two rectangular portions, joined together and extending outward, with an open access portion, allowing a user to access balls that have traveled through ball dispenser segment C 230. Thus, ball dispenser segment C 230 operates so that a number of balls placed into funnel section 260 will fall one at a time through column section 270 and into bin section 280, for access by a user. Once a ball is removed from bin section 280, the weight of balls in column section 270 cause bin section 280 to refill. Because ball dispenser segment C 230 is affixed to wall 250, a number of balls are contained within funnel section 260, column section 270, and bin section 280. Moreover, ball dispenser segment C 230 rests on floor 240 so that floor 240 provides the bottom of each of rectangular portion 126 or bin section 280.

In one embodiment, ball dispenser 100 is constructed out of metal rods or tubes, affixed together by welding, bolting or screws. These metal rods or tubes may be manufactured from various types of metals, and may be square, rectangular, triangular, or circular in cross section. Ball dispenser 100 may also be affixed to wall 250 by hardware, such as bolts, anchors, taga wings, or rods.

FIG. 1 b depicts ball dispenser 100 sized for small, medium, and large balls, as ball dispenser segment A 210, ball dispenser segment B 220, and ball dispenser segment C 230. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the width or size of each ball dispenser segment may vary depending on the requirements of the user and the size and type of balls required to be stored. Nevertheless, each ball dispenser segment is dimensioned so that the width between each basic section 120 will only allow for passage of a particular size ball or balls of a lessor size. For example, if ball dispenser segment C 230 is sized for basketballs, all lesser sized balls will pass through ball dispenser segment C 230 to bin portion 280. However, if ball dispenser segment C 230 is sized for volleyballs, basketballs will not pass through ball dispenser segment C 230 to bin portion 280. Preferably, the width between each basic section 120 or the width of each ball dispenser segment A, B, and C (210 through 230) may not be less than 2″ larger than the ball width it is designed to hold, in order to allow for easy travel of the balls through ball dispenser. Thus, in one embodiment, the width between each basic section 120 is 7,″ 12,″ and 14,″ The 7″ width is used to store a 5″ diameter ball, the 12″ width is used to store a 10″ diameter ball, and the 14″ width is used to store a 12″ diameter ball. In another embodiment, each sized ball dispenser segment A, B, and C (210 through 213) may be color coded, pictures of balls may be affixed to connecting members 110, or other means may be used to indicate which funnel section 260 to toss balls up into. Moreover, ball dispenser segments A, B, and C (210 though 230) may be arrayed from smallest width to largest width, and further constructed so that balls tossed up into the left most funnel section 260 will roll until an opening into a funnel section 260 is encountered that has a width to allow passage of the ball size. In this configuration, balls can self-sort into the appropriate size ball dispenser segment.

FIG. 2 also depicts ball dispenser 100 constructed according to FIG. 1 a and 1 b, but shows ball dispenser segments A, B and C (210 through 230) as self-contained units. This demonstrates that ball dispenser segments A, B, and C (210 through 230) may be constructed as self-contained units or may be joined together with other ball dispensers 100 to form one large ball dispenser 100. With reference to FIG. 2, ball dispenser segment A 210, ball dispenser segment B 220, and ball dispenser segment C 230 are each constructed as described above by joining two basic sections 120 and a plurality of connecting members 110. Each basic section 120 has a triangular portion 122 at the top, vertical portion 124 at the middle, and rectangular portion 126 at the base. In FIG. 2, connecting members 112 through 114 vary in size from connecting members 110 depicted in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b depict connecting members 110 as the same length. However, persons skilled in the art will recognize that varying the lengths of connecting members 110, will vary the width of ball dispenser 100. For example, in FIG. 2, each ball dispenser segment A, B, and C (210 through 230) is formed by varying sized connecting members 110. Ball dispenser segment A 210 is formed from connecting members 112, ball dispenser segment B 220 is formed from connecting members 113, and ball dispenser segment C 230 is formed from connecting members 114. The distance between each connecting member 110 may also vary depending on the dimensions of the basic sections 120, the dimensions of the connecting members 110, the ball size, and the requirements of the user. Persons skilled in the art will further recognize that varying the height and number of basic sections 120, will increase the height and width of ball dispenser 100.

In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 3, ball dispenser 100 may be constructed with additional storage space and hangers, allowing for the storage of bats, tennis rackets, hoops, croquet mallets and jump ropes. These add-ons may be constructed from the same or different material and in the same or different manner as ball dispenser 100. As shown in FIG. 3, curved member 320 is attached to connecting member 110 and extends horizontally outward across the front of the ball dispenser 100, parallel to connecting member 110. Curved member 320 allows for the storage of croquet mallets, balls, and bocce balls.

In another embodiment, ball dispenser 100 has a storage case 360 that allows for storage of bats, tennis rackets, badminton rackets and the like. Storage case 360 is constructed as a box-like structure and comprises interconnecting vertical and horizontal members separated into sections. In one embodiment, the interconnecting vertical and horizontal members form a box-like structure 3′ by 3′ and 4′ by 4′ in size. Storage case 360 may be connected to a basic section 120 of ball dispenser 100, by welding, screws, hooks and the like.

In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 3, holding portions 380 extend outwardly from the face of ball dispenser 100 for use in storing ropes and hoops. Holding portions 380 are mounted to connecting members 110 or basic sections 120 of ball dispenser 100 by welding, screws, hooks and the like. Holding portions 380 may be straight or wavy. When wavy, holding portion 380 facilitates storage of hoops of varying diameters.

In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 3, ball dispenser 100 may be equipped with a locking mechanism 330 on the top and bottom of ball dispenser 100. Locking mechanism 330 comprises a horizontal locking bar 340 and securing member 350. Securing member 350 comprises hoops, hooks, eyelets, or rings, and may be located at the top and bottom of ball dispenser 100. Locking bar 340 is secured to securing member 350 by means of a combination lock, key lock, or the like.

In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 3, slanted portion 390 is located inside the base or bin section of ball dispenser 100. Slanted portion 390 aids in feeding balls into bin portion 280. Slanted portion 390 may be made from the same materials as used for connecting members 110 or alternatively, may be a solid sheet of woods plaster, or other suitable material.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The novel spirit of the present invention is still embodied by reordering or deleting some of the steps contained in this disclosure. The spirit of the invention is not meant to be limited in any way expect by proper construction of the following claims. 

1. A hall dispenser comprising: a plurality of connecting members and a first and a second basic section, each basic section having a triangular portion, a vertical portion, and a rectangular portion; wherein, the first basic section and the second basic section are integrally connected to each other by a plurality of connecting members, and further connected to a wall to form a funnel section, a column section, and a bin section; wherein, when a plurality of balls are fed into the funnel section, the plurality of balls will fall through the column section into the bin section from which a topmost ball can be removed by a user from a top of the bin.
 2. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein each column section is sized to a similar or different ball size.
 3. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ball dispenser is manufactured from a metal material consisting of aluminum, copper, steel, terne, or zinc.
 4. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein a curved member is attached to a connecting member, extends outward from the connecting member and is parallel to the connecting member.
 5. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein a storage case, comprising integrally connected vertical and horizontal members, separated into sections, is connected to the ball dispenser.
 6. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein a holding member extends horizontally and outward from the connecting member.
 7. The ball dispenser of claim 6, wherein the holding member is straight or wavy.
 8. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism, comprised of a securing member and a locking bar, prevents unauthorized access to balls.
 9. The ball dispenser of claim 1, wherein a slanted portion is positioned inside the bin section of the ball dispenser.
 10. A ball dispenser comprising: a plurality of connecting members and a plurality of basic sections, the plurality of basic sections having a triangular portion, a vertical portion, and a rectangular portion; wherein, the plurality of basic sections are integrally connected to each other by a plurality of connecting members, and further connected to a wall to form a funnel section, a column section, and a bin section; wherein, when a plurality of balls are fed into the funnel section, the plurality of balls will fall through the column section into the bin section from which a topmost ball can be removed by a user from a top of the bin.
 11. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein each column section is sized to a similar or different ball size.
 12. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein the ball dispenser is manufactured from a metal material consisting of aluminum, copper, steel, terne, or zinc.
 13. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein a curved member is attached to a connecting member, extends outward from the connecting member and is parallel to the connecting member.
 14. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein a storage case, comprising integrally connected vertical and horizontal members, separated into sections, is connected to the ball dispenser.
 15. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein a holding member extends horizontally and outward from the connecting member.
 16. The ball dispenser of claim 15, wherein the holding member is straight or wavy.
 17. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein a locking mechanism, comprised of a securing member and a locking bar, prevents unauthorized access to balls.
 18. The ball dispenser of claim 10, wherein a slanted portion is positioned inside the bin section of the ball dispenser.
 19. A method of constructing a ball dispenser comprising: integrally connecting a plurality of connecting members, and a first and a second base section, the first and second basic section having a triangular portion, a vertical portion and a rectangular portion to form a unit; affixing the unit to a wall to form a funnel section, a column section, and a bin section, wherein, when a plurality of balls are fed into the funnel section, the plurality of balls will fall through the column section into the bin section from which a topmost ball can be removed by a user from a top of the bin. 